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Scientology versus the Internet

Scientology and the Internet
Scientology versus the Internet.png
Counterclockwise from above: 1) Protest by an Internet group calling itself 'Anonymous' against the practices and tax status of the Church of Scientology, 2) Monument-style sign in front of the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington DC, 3) Screenshot of error message when attempting to load www.scientology.org on January 25, 2008.
Date July 1994 – ongoing
Location Internet, courts of law, worldwide protests
Methods litigation, spam, street protests, prank calls, black faxes, denial of service attacks
Status ongoing
Parties to the civil conflict
Church of Scientology, Church of Scientology International, and various other entities associated with Scientology
Lead figures
Number
unknown
~500,000 members

alt.religion.scientology
Anonymous
Operation Clambake

Andreas Heldal-Lund
Mark Bunker

David Miscavige
Tom Cruise
John Travolta
Tommy Davis

There are a number of disputes concerning the Church of Scientology's attempts to suppress material critical of Scientology on the Internet, utilizing lawsuits and legal threats. In late 1994, the Church of Scientology began using various legal tactics to stop distribution of unpublished documents written by L. Ron Hubbard. The Church of Scientology is often accused of barratry through the filing of SLAPP suits. The official church response is that its litigious nature is solely to protect its copyrighted works and the unpublished status of certain documents.

Various critics of the Church of Scientology have characterized the organization as a confidence scam and claim that these secretive writings are proof, or allege that they contain evidence that the Church of Scientology's medical practices are illegal and fraudulent. Scientology has been convicted of fraud in the courts of several nations, although not those of the United States. Others have claimed that the Church of Scientology is abusing copyright law by launching lawsuits against outspoken critics.


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Wikipedia

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